The Electro-Harmonix Soul Food is a transparent overdrive and clean boost developed as an affordable alternative to the highly sought-after Klon Centaur. Its analog circuit uses boosted internal power rails for added headroom and definition, giving it a responsive feel that works well for everything from nearly clean boosting to mid-forward overdrive and amp-pushing gain.
Drive controls the amount of input gain. At lower settings, the Soul Food works as a clean or lightly colored boost with plenty of output available to push an amplifier harder. As Drive is increased, the circuit adds progressively more grit and midrange emphasis, eventually moving into a fuller classic-overdrive sound. Volume sets the final output level.
Treble provides active high-frequency shaping around a neutral noon position. Turning it clockwise adds top end and bite, while counterclockwise settings roll off highs for a warmer response. This simple three-knob layout makes the Soul Food easy to use as either a primary low-to-medium-gain drive or as a boost stacked into another pedal or an already-driven amplifier.
An internal switch allows the bypass mode to be changed between true bypass and buffered bypass. The pedal ships from the factory set to true bypass, while buffered mode routes the bypassed signal through the Soul Food's onboard buffer—useful for longer cable runs or larger pedalboards where signal loss can become noticeable.
Key Features
- Analog transparent overdrive and clean boost
- Developed as an affordable alternative to the Klon Centaur
- Boosted internal power rails for increased headroom and definition
- Drive range from clean boost through classic overdrive
- Higher Drive settings add additional midrange emphasis
- Volume, Drive, and Treble controls
- Treble control is neutral at noon and provides high-frequency boost or cut
- Plenty of output for pushing an amplifier into additional breakup
- Internally selectable true bypass or buffered bypass
- Factory-set for true bypass
- Compact Nano-style enclosure
- EHX power adapter included
Specifications
- Effect Type: Transparent Overdrive / Clean Boost
- Circuit: Analog
- Controls: Volume, Drive, Treble
- Bypass: Internally Selectable True Bypass / Buffered Bypass
- Input: 1 x 1/4"
- Output: 1 x 1/4"
- Input Impedance: 1MΩ
- Output Impedance: 650Ω–3.3kΩ
- Audio: Mono
- Power: 9V DC, center-negative
- Current Draw: 22mA
- Included Power Supply: EHX 9.6VDC / 200mA adapter
- Battery Operation: Yes; optional 9V battery
- Dimensions: 4.5" x 2.75" x 2.1"
- Year Released: 2013
- UPC: 683274011448